Seismologists to monitor Seattle Seahawks in playoffs for more ‘Beast Quakes’

Marshawn Lynch flips upside-down in the end zone after his 67-yard “Beast Quake” run against the Saints on Jan. 8, 2011, in Seattle. (Joshua Trujillo/seattlepi.com)

Scientists from the University of Washington will again be monitoring ground movement around CenturyLink Field during this month’s Seattle Seahawks playoff game(s) in Seattle.

They’ll be watching their seismic sensors for any more “Beast Quakes” as the Hawks take on the Carolina Panthers in Saturday’s NFC divisional playoff game. And, if the Seahawks advance to the NFC championship game, scientists from the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network will also be monitoring that game Jan. 18 at the CLink.

Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch famously caused the earth to shake Jan. 8, 2011, with his 67-yard touchdown run against the defending-champion Saints in their wild-card playoff win in the 2010 NFL season. Well, technically, it was the cheering 12th Man whose celebration registered on seismometers near the Seahawks’ home stadium.

Dubbed the Beast Quake, that run is widely fingered as the starting point of the Hawks’ ascent to the top of the NFL, culminating in their victory in Super Bowl XLVIII last year. The Seahawks hope to return to the Big Game this February in Glendale, Arizona, and bring home their second consecutive Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Last season, en route to the Super Bowl, Lynch caused another tremor during Seattle’s divisional playoff matchup with (again) the Saints. UW seismologists, armed with new instruments installed at and near CenturyLink Field, watched the needle bounce as fans cheered for Lynch’s 15-yard touchdown rush in the second quarter.

Lynch almost certainly would have again triggered ground movement Dec. 21 if the Seahawks had played the Cardinals in Seattle. His 79-yard touchdown run at Arizona — the longest rush of his accomplished career — was immediately dubbed “Beast Quake 2.0” after he broke four tackles and toed the sideline before leaping backward into the end zone, holding his crotch as he did in the original Beast Quake.

This Saturday — and potentially Jan. 18 — the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network will provide real-time seismic data through its website and via social media. As UW professor emeritus Steve Malone wrote in a blog post Monday, monitoring Seahawks games and streaming the data online can actually help the PNSN in developing its earthquake early warning system.

From Malone on PNSN.org:

As before, we will be providing some real-time and near real-time data feeds through this website. Last year we had some failures and successes using new web technology for rapid seismogram delivery. We will again provide the Hawk-o-grams which show a summary of shaking over the past several hours but are delayed from real time by 15-40 seconds. Also a new, faster and scalable display technique with only a couple of seconds delay called “QuickShake” will be tested.

This tool is intended to bolster our effort to provide Earthquake Early Warning (PNW Early Warning Workshop) to the public, and will be tested using Early Football Rowdiness Warnings. It should show when the fans go crazy 5+ seconds before the action unfolds on TV, given the 10-second delay built into televised NFL games. We are developing this software to provide real-time views of seismic waves when a great earthquake is starting to roil our coastal seismometers. It could also provide an instantaneous tool for observers to keep an eye on a future bothersome earthquake swarm or a volcano that is acting up. A good work-out from Internet Seahawk fans will help shake out problems.

<p>Lynch takes the handoff from Russell Wilson and hits the hole between left tackle Alvin Bailey and left guard James Carpenter, following tight end Cooper Helfet and pulling right guard J.R. Sweezy.</p> less

<p>Lynch takes the handoff from Russell Wilson and hits the hole between left tackle Alvin Bailey and left guard James Carpenter, following tight end Cooper Helfet and pulling right guard J.R. ... more

Photo: Screenshot / Seahawks.com

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<p>Cardinals rookie linebacker Glenn Carson looks to have a chance to fill the hole, but Lynch stutter-steps to his left, causing Carson to lose his balance. Carson can just manage a hand around Lunch’s ankle, but that’s not nearly enough to stop him.</p> less

<p>Cardinals rookie linebacker Glenn Carson looks to have a chance to fill the hole, but Lynch stutter-steps to his left, causing Carson to lose his balance. Carson can just manage a hand around Lunch’s ... more

Photo: Screenshot / Seahawks.com

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<p>Now past the first line of defense, Lynch jumps forward before planting hard and cutting to his right against Arizona cornerback Patrick Peterson, who had overpursued from his left corner spot.</p> less

<p>Now past the first line of defense, Lynch jumps forward before planting hard and cutting to his right against Arizona cornerback Patrick Peterson, who had overpursued from his left corner ... more

Photo: Screenshot / Seahawks.com

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<p>Lynch races around the now flat-footed Peterson toward the right sideline with Cardinals linebacker Alex Okafor in hot pursuit.</p>

<p>Lynch races around the now flat-footed Peterson toward the right sideline with Cardinals linebacker Alex Okafor in hot pursuit.</p>

Photo: Screenshot / Seahawks.com

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<p>Peterson catches back up to Lynch near the sideline and tries — foolishly — to knock the ball out of his arms with a punch around midfield rather than attack Lynch’s legs. Lynch pushes Peterson away.</p> less

<p>Peterson catches back up to Lynch near the sideline and tries — foolishly — to knock the ball out of his arms with a punch around midfield rather than attack Lynch’s legs. Lynch pushes Peterson ... more

Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images

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<p>He then bulldozes through Arizona safety Rashard Johnson, who was being blocked by Hawks wideout Ricardo Lockette.</p>

<p>He then bulldozes through Arizona safety Rashard Johnson, who was being blocked by Hawks wideout Ricardo Lockette.</p>

Photo: Screenshot / Seahawks.com

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<p>Lynch is right at the sideline, but manages to stay in-bounds, cut left and burst upfield.</p>

<p>Lynch is right at the sideline, but manages to stay in-bounds, cut left and burst upfield.</p>

Photo: Rick Scuteri / AP

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<p>Okafor had slowed up a bit, apparently anticipating that Peterson or Johnson would make the play, but when it became clear that they — um, wouldn’t — Okafor resumes his pursuit.</p>

<p>Okafor had slowed up a bit, apparently anticipating that Peterson or Johnson would make the play, but when it became clear that they — um, wouldn’t — Okafor resumes his pursuit.</p>

Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images

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<p>The 6-foot-4, 260-pound linebacker actually catches up to Lynch, but could only manage a hand on his ankle while diving to make the stop.</p>

<p>The 6-foot-4, 260-pound linebacker actually catches up to Lynch, but could only manage a hand on his ankle while diving to make the stop.</p>

Photo: Rick Scuteri / Associated Press

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<p>Cardinals cornerback Antonio Cromartie is the last Arizona player that has a chance at Lynch, but he holds up, which is probably a good business decision on his part. Lynch turns around, see’s that no one is pursuing him …</p> less

<p>Cardinals cornerback Antonio Cromartie is the last Arizona player that has a chance at Lynch, but he holds up, which is probably a good business decision on his part. Lynch turns around, see’s that no one ... more

Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images

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<p>…and leaps in the air, ending with a (rather profane) flourish.</p>

<p>…and leaps in the air, ending with a (rather profane) flourish.</p>

Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images

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<p>Lynch’s touchdown made the score 28-6 with 10:14 left in the fourth quarter after the extra point, leaving no doubt as to who would leave University of Phoenix Stadium as the NFC West leader.</p> less

<p>Lynch’s touchdown made the score 28-6 with 10:14 left in the fourth quarter after the extra point, leaving no doubt as to who would leave University of Phoenix Stadium as the NFC West ... more

Photo: Rick Scuteri / Associated Press

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<p>Lynch’s teammates, led by Earl Thomas, mob him in the end zone.</p>

<p>Lynch’s teammates, led by Earl Thomas, mob him in the end zone.</p>

Photo: Norm Hall / Getty Images

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<p>The celebration continued, turning into a mob around Beast Mode.</p>

<p>The celebration continued, turning into a mob around Beast Mode.</p>

Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images

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<p>Beast mode was his typical muted self in the post-game interviews, answering each question by thanking the reporter for their queries — and proceeding to not to answer a one of them.</p>

<p>Beast mode was his typical muted self in the post-game interviews, answering each question by thanking the reporter for their queries — and proceeding to not to answer a one of them.</p>

Photo: Getty Images

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Seismologists to monitor Seattle Seahawks in playoffs for more 'Beast Quakes'